Understanding the Effects of Bidentate Directing Groups: A Unified Rationale for sp(2) and sp(3) C-H Bond Activations

Bidentate directing group (DG) strategy is a promising way to achieve sp(2) and more inert sp(3) C-H bond activations in transition metal (TM) catalysis. In this work, we systematically explored the assisting effects exerted by bidentate DGs in the C-H bond activations. Through DFT calculations and well-defined comparative analysis, we for the first time unified the rationale of the reactivity promoted by bidentate DG in sp(2) and sp(3) C-H activations, which are generally consistent with available experimental discoveries about the C-H activation reactivity up to date. In addition to the general rationale of the reactivity, the assisting effects of several typical bidentate DGs were also quantitatively evaluated and compared to reveal their relative promoting ability for C-H activation reactivity. Finally, the effect of the ligating group charge and the position of the ligating group charge in bidentate DGs were also investigated, based on which new types of DGs were designed and proposed to be potentially effective in C-H activation. The deeper understanding and new insight about the bidentate DG strategy gained in this work would help to enhance its further experimental development in sp(2) and sp(3) C-H bond activations.